PROJECT FRONT PORCH PROPERTIES

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1 PROJECT FRONT PORCH PROPERTIES AGAINST ALL ODDS An excessively run-down Brisbane cottage, without any of life s creature comforts and with the odds stacked against it, is brought back to life with love and a distinctive American flavour 60

2 FRONT PORCH PROPERTIES PROJECT The cottage has an aura of Desperate Housewives about it, with a wide verandah, beautiful gables, grey exterior and white picket fence 61

3 Words Danielle Townsend Photography Clare Sophia Photography To say this Brisbane house was derelict, unloved and unliveable is somewhat of an understatement. In its original 1920s condition, there wasn t even a proper bathroom, just an unusual shower space under the house. The property was filled with rotted timber, borer and termite damage and asbestos, the roof was rusted out and the front and back stairs weren t safe to use. In fact, the house was so far gone, the bank would not loan me any money against it, says homeowner Rachael Turner of Front Porch Properties. Luckily, I won it cheap enough at auction that I was able to borrow enough against the land alone. Despite its neglected state and lack of creature comforts, the house became affectionately referred to as Charlie s House. The neighbours would often pull us aside to tell us stories of Charlie, the sweet old man who used to live here, says Rachael. He was born here, raised here and stayed here for the rest of his life. It just amazes me that, in this day and age, just moments from a CBD, this old man would trek outside, down the rotting staircase and under the house to use the exposed toilet! Neighbours also said he would sit in the front room of the house at night because there were no lights or power points in any other room! I guess this is just how he grew up and he knew nothing else. Fortunately, Rachael recognised the home s possibilities. It was important to me to retain as much of the original house as possible, she says. My goal was to transform this abandoned ugly duckling into a beautiful and functional home, creating a modern living environment while keeping the original cottage charm. Another goal was to stick to my very tight budget and a 12-week timeframe. Rachael s admiration for American-style homes inspired her project. I have a real love for Americana, slightly Hamptons, modernvintage-style homes, she says. Think Desperate Housewives wide verandahs, beautiful gables, soothing colour palettes, grey exteriors, French doors, windows with glazing bars, lots of light, white picket fences, cool breezes, symmetry and casual yet elegant decor. I believe Queenslanders are great blank canvases to fuse with the more sophisticated and elegant American equivalent they share a lot of the same core elements. I also think this more American adaptation of the traditional Queenslander sits beautifully in the Brisbane streetscape. Although this particular house was 62

4 FRONT PORCH PROPERTIES PROJECT Rachael wanted to create a new kitchen that was both beautiful and functional, with plenty of bench space. The kitchen doors and panels are all high-gloss Alabaster for the lower cabinets and the full-height cupboards are Mountain Pepper Above and below VJ boards from the removed walls were reused to line the ceiling of the new dining area. A banquette/dining booth was built against the new bathroom wall, allowing the dining table to be tucked closer to the wall, freeing up space a cottage, not a traditional Queenslander, the above was my starting point. Construction work was undertaken by Construction Co: the residence was re-stumped, levelled and all asbestos removed. New flooring was installed throughout, as the original timber flooring was badly damaged by borers. The entire roof was replaced and all new electrical wiring and plumbing installed. Walls were removed to create an open layout, structural beams were installed to support the ceiling and walls were added to create a new bathroom. Although the new bathroom is quite small, I tried to make it as functional and luxurious as possible, says Rachael. I did this by including a heated towel rail, floor-to-ceiling polished porcelain tiles, dual rain shower and hand shower unit, double vanity, recessed mirrored cupboard storage, LED vanity strip lighting, a 63

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6 FRONT PORCH PROPERTIES PROJECT I believe Queenslanders are great blank canvases to fuse with the more sophisticated and elegant American equivalent they share a lot of the same core elements Rachael Turner When knocking down the original kitchen walls, the lower half of the wall was kept to act as the back of the kitchen cabinetry, creating a built-in custom look 65

7 PROJECT FRONT PORCH PROPERTIES It was important to me to retain as much of the original house as possible. My goal was to transform this abandoned ugly duckling into a beautiful and functional home, creating a modern living environment while keeping the original cottage charm Rachael Turner Above The back exterior wall and stairs were demolished to allow a new rear deck for outdoor entertaining Opposite top One of the three bedrooms in Charlie s House it fits with Rachael s love of the Hamptons and modern-vintage-style homes beautiful Aster pendant light and a hidden shelf for shampoo etc, she adds. The mirrors on the cabinets open inwards, too, which means us girls can easily see the back of our hair! By adding a bathroom, space was significantly reduced for dining, and VJ boards from the removed walls were reused to line the ceiling of the new dining area. A banquette/dining booth was built against the new bathroom wall, allowing the dining table to be tucked closer to the wall, freeing up space. Rachael wanted to create a new kitchen that was both beautiful and functional, with plenty of bench space. When knocking down the original kitchen walls, the lower half of the wall was kept, to act as the back of the kitchen cabinetry. This created a built-in custom look. Blum hardware was installed with fullextension drawers and soft-close drawers and doors, along with an undermount sink, stone benchtops, a clever microwave and appliance cupboard hidden behind bifold doors, breakfast bar, laundry chute to the new laundry built directly under the kitchen (under the house) and a servery to the back deck. Rachel also selected an Asko gas cooktop, Fisher & Paykel oven and energy-efficient LED downlights. The kitchen doors and panels are all highgloss Createc by Polytec and all lower cabinets are Alabaster, while the full-height bank of cupboards is Mountain Pepper. I carried this same aesthetic through to the bathroom, using white and mocha-coloured tiles to create a similar effect, says Rachael of the same 100x50mm pearl subway splashback tiles incorporated in both the kitchen and bathroom. Outside, the back exterior wall and stairs were demolished to allow a new rear deck for outdoor entertaining. Meanwhile, at the front of the house, a new study was added and as the original front verandah had been closed in, it was now opened up and new handrails built. A portico and footbridge were also constructed to dress up the front facade and create easy street access. The most practical part of the renovation is the footbridge, says Rachael. What a huge difference it has made for access and street appeal. Also at the front of the property, to create a wonderful welcoming effect, a new driveway, carport, front picket fence, retaining wall, side fence, landscaping and turf have made a world of difference. Naturally, the entire house was also repainted for a lovely fresh feeling. I don t think I have a favourite part of the home in particular, says Rachael of her completed project. I love all the light fixtures and I think the built-in banquette works particularly well. I also really like the design connection between the kitchen and bathroom. And what would Charlie say about the transformation, some might ask? We think he d be mighty impressed and somewhat amazed with what the home he knew and lived in for so many decades, without any creature comforts, has become. 66

8 FRONT PORCH PROPERTIES PROJECT Although the bathroom is quite small, it s both functional and luxurious, with a heated towel rail, floor-to-ceiling tiles, rain shower and a beautiful Aster pendant light 67

9 PROJECT FRONT PORCH PROPERTIES LEGEND 1 Portico 2 Verandah 3 Entry 4 Bedroom 5 Study 6 Lounge room 7 Kitchen 8 Bathroom 9 Deck N FLOOR PLAN before Project particulars This project was designed and project managed by: Front Porch Properties Brisbane Qld Tel rachael.jane.turner@gmail.com This project was built by: Salt Construction Co Tel Web saltconstruction.com.au FLOORING Kitchen/dining/living/study Waterproof, scratch- and dent-proof vinyl planks Bedrooms Carpet WALLS Exterior Porter s Paints Old Stone Wall semi-gloss Interior Dulux Wash & Wear Beige Royale quarter strength on ceilings Dining flooring extended up dining room wall KITCHEN Benchtop Caesarstone Snow Splashback 100x50mm pearl subway tiles Cabinetry Createc by Polytec high-gloss doors and panels in Mountain Pepper and Alabaster Internals Blum hardware full-extension drawers, soft-close drawers and cupboards Appliances Asko gas cooktop, Fisher & Paykel electric oven, dishwasher Lighting Energy-efficient LED downlights, three-light retro servery from Early Settler BATHROOM FITTINGS Cabinetry/basin 1800mm double vanity/ sink from Tradelink Bathroom Design, unit re-laminated in Polytec Alabaster to match kitchen cabinetry Tiles/walls and floor Floor-to-ceiling highgloss polished porcelain tiles in Alabaster and Mocha Taps Caroma tapware and fittings Shower/bath Dual rain shower and hand shower unit LIGHTING Kitchen Three-light retro servery from Early Settler, energy-efficient LED downlights from Beacon Lighting Bathroom LED strip lighting under mirrored cabinets from Beacon Lighting, Aster pendant from Early Settler Dining room Pendant light from Freedom Hallway Aster pendant from Early Settler Back deck Pendant lights from Beacon Lighting Study Clermont chrome pendant from Beacon Lighting Front portico Monaco exterior pendant light from Lightworks Online Front verandah Industrial Provincial wall light from Stella s House WINDOWS & EXTERNAL DOORS All new doors and windows were sourced second hand from local demolition yards OUTDOOR Roof Colorbond Woodland Grey Furniture/accessories Some furniture was Rachael s own, some was hired. She styled the house herself 68